198 units weighing a collective 85 tons will be airlifted into place this weekend
Outlets of Des Moines will be the site of some very exciting aerial activity this Saturday, December 3rd from 7:30am-4:30pm, as a helicopter places heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units atop the nine buildings that make up the Des Moines area’s first outlet mall.
St. Louis Helicopter LLC will be putting into place 198 units, ranging in weight from 750 pounds to 1,400 pounds, at New England Development’s 300,000-square foot retail development under construction in Altoona.
“Visually this is an exciting process to watch,” said Mike Barelli, Vice President for New England Development. “Picture a helicopter lifting a 1,400-pound object through the air and setting it delicately on top of our buildings, and doing so 198 times in one day. The precision, choreography, and pace required to do this is an impressive feat.”
For safety reasons, only construction workers will be allowed on the actual site, however there will be a great viewing area in the parking lot on the backside of Bass Pro Shops.
According to Ryan Companies US, Inc., which is managing the construction for owner and developer New England Development, the airlift project and installation will take two days – one day to lift the units into place and the following day to actually install and secure the units – and has included special preparations. The entire site is being devoted to this effort this weekend, with all other work being put on hold until this important airlift is complete.
Lift Facts
- 2,500 lbs. – Lifting capacity of the helicopter
- 198 – Number of HVAC units to be put in place at Outlets of Des Moines
- 2 – Sizes of units
- 750 lbs. – Small unit size
- 1,400 lbs. – Large unit size (size of a large Bactrina two-hump camel)
- 85 tons – Total combined weight of the HVAC units (comparable to 42 cars or 21 elephants)
- 5 – The Number of minutes it takes for the helicopter to place each unit
Scheduled to open October 20, 2017, Outlets of Des Moines will feature major-label outlet stores and restaurants and share the same exit as popular area attractions and retailers such as Adventureland Amusement Park; Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel; and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.
About New England Development
For over 35 years, New England Development has taken a creative, entrepreneurial approach to real estate development and management, delivering and sustaining successful projects across a wide range of property types and across the country. New England Development’s growing portfolio of retail projects includes an exciting mix of outlet centers including Asheville Outlets in Asheville, North Carolina; Palm Beach Outlets in West Palm Beach, Florida; Outlets of Little Rock in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Clarksburg Premium Outlets in Clarksburg, Maryland.
Under construction is Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona, Iowa scheduled to open October 20, 2017. For more information, visit www.NEDevelopment.com.
